The Chariot of Aurora 1760s

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo painted The Chariot of Aurora using oil on canvas, likely in the mid-18th century. Oil paint, with its capacity for blending and layering, allows Tiepolo to create this scene of mythological splendor. Look closely, and you can see the brushwork, the ways in which the paint has been dragged and feathered to suggest the figures emerging from the sky. The dynamism of the chariot, the horses, and the figures is all captured through the materiality of the paint. We get a sense of the artist at work, carefully building up the image, stroke by stroke. This kind of craftsmanship wasn’t just about technical skill; it also reflected a particular social context. Tiepolo's work would have required a studio of assistants to prepare the canvas, mix pigments, and even help with the underpainting. Considering these material and labor aspects helps us appreciate the painting as a product of both individual genius and collective effort, challenging the notion of the artist as a solitary creator.